Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba won the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon on Sunday, and if there is anything better than victory on your marathon on debut, it is probably winning your first two.
The 24-year-old Kenyan, running the distance competitively for just the second time in his career, clocked a time of 2 hours, 10 minutes and 48 seconds to cross the finish line first at Victoria Park.
While some three minutes slower than his personal best of 2:07:28, which he set at the Munich Marathon last October, it was still enough to see him come in ahead of Ethiopians Limenih Getachew (2:11:25) and Senbeta Geza Tadesse (2:11:59).
It was a good day all around for Ethiopia, with its women sweeping the podium and Fantu Eticha Jimma going two better than the third place she managed in the 2018 race.
With humidity remaining high throughout the morning at 80 to 100 per cent, Kipchumba said it had been a difficult race for all concerned. Still he said he felt good in his first outing in Hong Kong.
Fantu Eticha Jimma sinks to her knees after winning the women’s race at the 25th Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon. Photo: Yik Yeung-man
“It is a unique race with the tunnel [Western Harbour Crossing] and the bridge [Tsing Ma Bridge],” he said. “I knew I was coming since October so I had been preparing for over three months.
“I was trained to run under the 2:10:00 mark, and though I did not manage to do it, the result is good, I tried my best. Despite a slower time, I am still happy and it certainly is an encouragement for me to do more races.”
Kipchumba, who moved to Nairobi at a young age, started running at 16 when he studied in high school, and he became a “passionate” runner soon.
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“Munich is a flat and fast race but there are a lot of ups and downs in Hong Kong,” he said. “In Hong Kong, it was windy on the bridge and extremely hot in the tunnel. The first 21 kilometres were very humid but on our way back it is a bit cold.
“For sure I am going to return if I have the chance, but for the moment I do not have the next race lined up yet.”
Ethiopia’s Limenih Getachew salutes winner Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba as he arrives finish line in Victoria Park. Photo: Yik Yeung-man
Ranked No 184 in the world, Kipchumba’s pace was steady from start to finish. He averaged 3 minutes and 8 seconds for each kilometre before establishing a comfortable lead over fellow runners as he approached Victoria Park.
In the women’s category, Eticha, who only speaks Amharic, one of five Ethiopian official languages, clocked a time of 2:27:30, almost three minutes faster than the 35-year-old managed five years ago.
“I am happy with my performance,” she said via a translator. “It is not my best time but the conditions were too wet today.”
Eticha, who set her personal best of 2:22:52 2 last April at the Paris Marathon, said she would “happily” return for a third time if she had the chance.
Compatriot Sinke Dessie Biyadgilgn finished in 2:34:46 to take second, with Negasa Gadise coming third in 2:48:05.
Biyadgilgn, 28, previously surprised many to win the Twin Cities Marathon in Minnesota in 2018, when she clocked a time of 2:33:044 seconds to win in her marathon debut.
